An event, no matter how meticulously conceptualized, painstakingly rehearsed, and smoothly presented, will still fail to achieve the utmost standard of grandiosity when lacking of interesting personalities and glitterati that effectually add to its definitive glitz and glam.
The indefatigable working committee of the 2016 People’s Ball never left a stone unturned just so to assure a truly successful and tremendously celebrated event that could surpass the sensational achievements of the previous years.
From coming up with the classic Roaring 20’s Gatsby-style theme to choosing the perfect performers and up to finalizing program sequences, the 2016 People’s Ball is vitally loaded with unstinted elements an event winner should be packed with.
Just take into consideration the two lady hosts to emcee the nostalgic occasion:
Firstly, there is Lenn Almadin Thornhill, a veteran journalist at ABS-CBN, a skillfully knowledgeable media practitioner, Assignment Editor at WRNN FIOS 1 News, a job she recently took on after working and living in the Caribbean for 5 years. She worked as a reporter and as a senior news producer for both radio and TV for two of Trinidad and Tobago’s news stations, CCN TV6 and CNMG, covering elections, special reports and breaking news. Her work there earned her a Caribbean Broadcasting Union Award in 2013 for a three-part special series on child sexual abuse. During her time in the Caribbean, Lenn also began working as a special correspondent for Global Reporters’ 18 Degrees North show which is based in Jamaica. Lenn has worked as a correspondent and producer for ABS-CBN News since 2001, covering US Presidential elections and general assignments. She is also a freelance correspondent for Rappler.com. Last year, Lenn was asked to executive produce the general election coverage in Trinidad and Tobago for CNMG. She continues to contribute special reports for the news stations in the Caribbean.
Then, there’s the quintessential globetrotter, travelogue producer, an independent documentary filmmaker, and a fashion icon in the person of Miss Paola Isabella Rocha Tornito. From having been armed with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Lyceum of the Philippines, socialite Paola has journeyed far and wide and she speaks five languages: French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and English, and not to forget, her native tongue, Tagalog. Currently, Paola is comprehensively working on her travel documentary to be released soon.
2016 People’s Ball Performers
This year’s edition of the People’s Ball could easily be considered talent-loaded with nothing but only the consummate and unparalleled local performers the tri-state can be proud of.
If there’s but one promising boy band around that could effortlessly grab the spotlights anytime soon, that would be Take The Stage, a triumvirate of musically inclined teenage boys which monikers are to capture not only their young followers but also even those young-at-hearts who could not resist the sound of their infectious brand of music. Equally good-lookers in their own right, Hans Garcia (16) is the band’s lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter while younger brother Shanne Garcia (12) is designated as the group’s drummer and vocals. Cousin Kiel Calonzo (16), plays the bass guitar and does occasional vocals. All three are indubitably bound nowhere but success. Take The Stage is all set to perform two classic 1920’s Kenny Baker recordings: “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” and “I Ain’t Nobody,” great songs not even their parents know.
Christopher Corro, a romantic balladeer from Visayas, is one of the most in-demand dance instructors in the Queens area. Chris is currently employed as a Dental Assistant while moonlighting as a singer and front-act artist for visiting celebrities and recording artists from Manila. A talent easy to get along with, Chris is open to challenging songs and production numbers without a word of either complaint or rejection. For the People’s Ball Chris will render his own interpretation of Louie Armstrong’s “Ain’t Misbehavin,” and Kenny Baker’s “After You’ve Gone.”
The current toast of every Queens watering hole is unmistakably none other than the enticing curly-haired rocker from Batangas, Michelle Pross more popularly known in the entertainment circuit as Michelle Michelle. Although stably employed and financially sound but still singing is something the sultry chanteuse cannot live being devoid of. To share her vocal capability with and entertain the People’s Ball attendees, Michelle has superbly mastered “My Sweeter Than Sweet” and Lee Mores’ “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby.”
Ardently subscribing to the dictates of her obsession, Rasmin Diaz finds singing as a therapeutic passion and an antidote for loneliness…having been away from home for years. After having captured her Canadian audience, Rasmin took New York by storm via her amazingly powerful vocal range and innately distinctive technique in belting out jazz, pop, and disco beats aside from assiduously exploring Blues music. For the People’s Ball, Rasmin was assigned Teddy Raph & His Orchestra’s “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” and “It Had To Be You” by Isham Jones.
What could be more exciting than anticipating for the stimulating performance of the vocal power from Connecticut which name alone could whisk curiosity? Mitch Week, Michelle Semana in private (hence the ‘Week’ from Semana) has successfully established her status in the performing arena. Petite with a gigantic vocal range and a stage appeal far from being ignored, Mitch is one singer with limitless genre and expansive technical variation. Her vocal quality is as distinct as her suitable song preferences like two among Ella Fitzgerald’s well-received recordings: “I’ll See You In My Dreams’ and “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
Singers, no matter how exceptionally brilliant, will tend to lose their vocal luster when poorly supplemented with an amateurish accompaniment, but on the contrary, when masterful fingers ‘caressed’ the keyboards, great performers turned out even much greater when an Eric Celerio plays the piano along with them. An actor, songwriter, composer, and Master Keyboardist, Eric Celerio must have been born with a piano for his twin aside from the fact that he’s the son of another Filipino Music Master, the late Levi Celerio. Eric, for the People’s Ball, accompanies all performers on the keyboards, after having thoroughly underwent a one-on-one rehearsal with him.
Top Alto Saxophonist Adam Hutcheson takes center stage together with the People’s Ball performers ready to add intensity and brilliancy to every single song and musical rendition. Adam’s innate ability to express his sentiments, emotions and soulful longings through playing his saxophone with such skillful style all his own is something worth listening to.
While enjoying the reminiscence of the good old days and savoring the Roaring 20s Era, there are visibly new faces that surely bring out dashes of sparkle and effervescence in contrasting effect. Young personalities who are encouraged to join the annual summer gala included: dusky beauty Shirley Escalada, reigning Miss Jersey City and about to compete for the Miss New Jersey crown soon; towering and swarthy budding ramp and print ad model Dominican Cesar Caceres; fresh angelic-face talent from Ecuador and a Business Management student from Manhattan DeVry University Marcelo Valarezo; and culinary assistant/dancer Emmanuel Sorza.
Other than the mentioned local talents, special celebrity guests Julia Montes and Paulo Avelino will grace the event together with the best from the west coast: host-comedian Jojo Mabolo, Poka, and veteran belter Jo Awayan.
The ever reliable lights and sounds services of Ernie Bugarin will definitely give the necessary boost to further heighten the spirit and vigor of the 2016 People’s Ball on Friday, August 12 at Double Tree By Hilton, 128 Frontage Road, Newark, New Jersey (07114).
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